Article Summary –
Gas prices in Midwestern states around the Great Lakes experienced significant increases, with Indiana seeing the highest rise at 83.3 cents, followed by Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, while the national average increase was 38.2 cents. The price surge is attributed to refinery issues in Indiana and the war in Iran, though there are indications that the situation might improve, as stated by Patrick De Haan from GasBuddy. Political discourse around gas prices includes promises from former President Donald Trump to cut energy bills and criticism of Tom Tiffany by Democrats for unfulfilled assurances regarding gas prices.
Gas prices in the Midwestern states around the Great Lakes experienced the highest rise in the U.S. last week.
According to GasBuddy, which tracks real-time gas prices nationwide, Wisconsin’s gas prices surged by 44.8 cents, ranking fifth in the country for the largest increase.
Indiana led with the steepest hike at 83.3 cents, followed by Ohio (78.1 cents), Michigan (68 cents), and Illinois (49.3 cents).
Michigan reported the highest diesel fuel price increase at 90.3 cents, while Wisconsin came in third with a 73.2-cent hike, as per GasBuddy.
Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy stated in a blog post that gas prices have risen across all states in the past week, with a national average increase of 38.2 cents.
As of May 5, Wisconsin’s average gas price stood at $4.40 per gallon, with a previous high of $4.93 in June 2022. On social media, De Haan noted a new record for average diesel prices in Wisconsin at $5.67 per gallon, with Michigan also setting a record at $6.01.
Gas prices have increased due to the war in Iran, but issues at BP’s refinery in Whiting, Indiana, like a power outage and labor disputes, have specifically impacted prices in the Great Lakes.
De Haan remarked that although refinery outages fueled significant price hikes, signs of improvement might alleviate extreme price pressures in the Great Lakes soon.
While campaigning for the 2024 election, President Donald Trump pledged to halve energy bills. In Wisconsin, GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany, running for governor, highlighted low gas prices in January, sharing on social media: “Gas under $2.50 a gallon in Glidden, WI this weekend. Even CNN reports that 2026 is on track to be the cheapest year for gas since 2020. Promises made, promises kept.”
Emily Stuckey, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, criticized Tiffany for “broken promises and strained bank accounts,” according to a news release in March.
De Haan also suggested on social media and in the GasBuddy blog post that while there’s potential relief for the Great Lakes, the broader outlook remains unpredictable, with ongoing price volatility likely.
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